Wednesday, December 30

Times Square, Branding Central

I don't know the actual stats, but I have to believe that December is the busiest month in NYC. The tourists pack in to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, to go shopping on 5th Avenue, and to eat at the amazing amazing restaurants. Have you been to LeGranouille during the holidays? The flowers (and the food) are one-of-a-kind.

While walking through midtown the other night, I realized that there's another part of the city that will soon attract the country's attention.

Times Square. Sure there are all the Broadway Shows that millions have enjoyed this season. And of course the ball that drops on New Year's (Rockin') Eve. But there is something else that captured my attention and made my heart skip a beat. The brands!

Times Square is kind of like branding central. Many many of the iconic brands of our culture are there and quite alive either on elaborate billboards or with a real physical presence.

Coca-Cola, Disney, M&M's, ESPN, MTV, Hershey's, Toys 'R Us, Hard Rock, Marriott ... The list goes on. And many people who go to Times Square are there to experience those brands. They shop, they eat, they take pictures of the billboards. They even post those pictures on their status updates. Even native New Yorkers do that!

Truthfully, it's a pretty amazing sight. Particularly if you are in marketing. All the big pop culture brands alive and thriving right in one historic place. The colors, the motions, the video, the logos ... so exciting. Branding central. Quite an inspiration.